I tried inhalation and exhalation to regain my composure. The prisoner chuckled again, at my expression.
In the realm of Fairytale, there were many magical creatures that co-existed within us over many centuries. May it be a ferocious dragon or an innocent white magical lamb, they were generally tamed and petted as their own for many years now but.. Forming a contract with them was... abnormal, rare also treated as illegal by some.
But, I have heard from my mother that, the true reason people avoid signing a contract with a spirit animal is because the entire process carries a great responsibility for both, the animal and the contracter in terms of power and bond.
If the contracter dies, the animal dies and vice versa. And, the power shared by the animal with the contracter is almost so high that it had caused deaths of many animals and it's owners alike.
And, that's the reason, forming a contract with a spirit animal is completely banished by Emperor Charming in his 10th incarnation.
But.. What my fellow prisoner was speaking about now is..
"..Wait!? You mean, I did the illegal contract and am still not dead yet!!!" I blabbered in my bombardment.
"Dead? W-Who ever told you that, girl!" He seemed shocked by the entire idea.
"People don't really die from forming a contract with a spirit animal. The real reason many people, during their previous recarnation died was because their bodies were not well trained and capable of holding in such immense power. But, bah! Dying...?"
The chained locked on his arms erupted a jingling sound as he ravishly folds his brawny arms and places over his head as his body kissed the floor.
"Then, I would have been a corpse by now, lassie.."
"You.. mean.. You have contracted a spirit animal too..? "
"A falcon with the power of long vision, to be accurate.. He was my best pal.. But now.. " His voice was weary and almost revealed the great disappointment he had felt behind those placid yet mysterious facede. He quickly decided to change the conversation.
"And, you?..To have your body cope all those powers of the spirit animal ..you must.. have already trained and equiped your body well to hold in that mana.. Am I wrong..? "
He asked as I blinked with fascination.
How.. did.. he..?
I softly bit my lips as memories of the horrid nostalgia flushed through my mind.
It's true, that I am the villainess of the Cinderella-story and do nothing except attempt to overthrow the heroine to be proudly defeated and meet my bad end. That is my fate and destiny. Nothing can change it and I knew it.
But, that doesn't mean I shouldn't be ready for that. That's the reason, I have spent days and nights for learning about true spirit magic in the public library(which is completely unnecessary for my story character) and strengthing my original thread magic in the enchanted forest for many years.
I had to do them alone, as no one except my mother who only cared about my step sister, Cinderella now, had any knowledge about this mysterious powers. And, even if they did, they were too busy criticising how weak and uncool my powers were, even for a villainess, to teach me.
It hurt when they called me the slinky 'weaver' with the most lamest power in the entire fairytale...
It hurt.. When the children threw stones at me saying I was a 'villainess' And, that I wasn't allowed to play with them. And..
It hurt to have no one to share my feelings with, not even my mother.
And, so I cried then...a lot-really lot... no-one acknowledged me. I was literally invisible from everyone's eyes.
But, still I endured it all and trained by myself all alone to make this useless power of threads, my only strength.
And, my results were finally awarded when I tried controlling the dragon and as the fellow prisoner quotes.. My body has automatically become strongly equiped to hold in the power of a powerful spirit animal.
I let out a deep sigh as a small smirk curls upon my cheeks.
"I guess, I really can't hide anything from you, Mr Cool guy.." I smiled as I watch him mirroring my expression.
"Well, you are talking to the Blackbeard Pirate who once ruled the ocean, lassie.. " He grinned as he suddenly stretched his hook hand towards me.
"The name's Hook, James Hook, a pirate captain who has dedicated his life to kill his rival nemesis Peter Pan..I am telling you this because.. " He suddenly chuckled and stopped awkwardly by rubbing his thick black hair. "It's really embarrassing when you call me as Mr Cool Guy..you know.. "
I don't know why but, I guess, a real tough guy like him getting all red by a little compliment really caught me off guard that, I laughed out so loud and accidentally, alerted all the guards who were supposed to keep us watch in this hour.
"What's that rackus out there!? " yelled a Royal guard.
"Ah, nothing. I was just irritated about a few busybody mice that were scurring around the prison halls. Oh, wait.. I think they are you.. " Mocked Captain Hook completely insulting the guards.
I chuckled. That's the captain for you.
"Anastasia, I am Anastasia De Rottenstein. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." I shook his hand formally when I noticed the captain hesitate a bit.
".. Your name.. So, you are a Nobel, huh? .. I-I have never met a real Nobel before. It's an honor meeting you Anastasia.."
He said with a pleasent grin, as I felt my cheeks heat up a bit...no-one except the members of my family call me by my original name. (It's a practice followed by the Noblemen)
I stretched my legs and leaned on the cold dungeon wall.
"Hey, Mr Cool Gu.. H-Hook...I know, you are much powerful for this dungeon to hold you in. But, the real question is.. Why are you not fleeing away.. I mean, judging your mana I know, that you are very strong. And, you could have even escaped along with me when I got out of the dungeon for the first time. But.. You didn't...why..?"
I asked him casually before, I abruptly seal my lips with my hands.
Oh.. Dear, that was so rude.. That is a high inappropriate and wrong way to speak to a fellow person, I had just known for a few hours.
I quickly added.
"You don't need to tell me, if you don't like it..I-I mean.. "
"It's because, I want my comrades to get stronger and rescue me on their own, that's why.. " He looked blankly at the candle light that danced according to the direction of the wind and stared at it.
"Huh? Y-Yes.. Yes.. I thought I had just heard you say, you wanna do something good for your comrade..."
"Well, I did say that. "
"Eh? "
"I want my comrades to rescue me by themselves. They mustn't depend on me forever, right?.." He repeated and let out a deep sigh.
"You see, As their captain, this is a very essential training for them. To cross all the dangers and put their life on the line to save someone precious to them. I know, they understand this. But, it sucks how long they would keep me sulking in this fuc*ing place.. "
He pouted as I slowly felt my jaws move wide open. My conscious suddenly grew hazy and my mind felt empty.
"A-Ah.. " I tried squeaking, but my mouth wouldn't move it was far too stunned by Mr Hook's words.
Is this how blank out feels like! ..My consciousness recalled.
"Hey.. Anastasia..?" my dear fellow source of my mind's current mind explosion gently shook my arms innocently. "Are you alright?"
I squeaked still not recovered from my shock and placed my palm ovee my head.
What.. What the hell is he saying? Comrades?? Not douche bags?? For a villain?? Am I hearing wrong??
I looked through my hazy vision slowly recovering from my bombardment and stared at him intently.
"Ah.. Mr.. Hook.. Why.. W-Why.. Do you care about about your comrades..so much...? Aren't you a villain?.. Shouldn't you be more rude and selfish towards them..?"
I bit my lips.
I know, that It's completely wrong steroptyping Mr Hook. But, it's just that.. I have never seen another villain who had revolutionary ideas of their fate, before.
I mean, it's not that I had actually talked with any other villains than him, in fear that I would get too influenced by them and aim to corrupt the heroine for my own destruction flag.
But, I have always just thought, It was only me who hated this life, only me who yearned for another fate, only me who doesn't want to hurt the heroine. So, I tried avoiding the other villains and thought their contact to me was dangerous for my fate and still do until Mr Hook now tells me the otherwise.
A gentle smile replaced Captain Hook's face as he holds his glistening sweat hair and flungs them up revealing his cheeky facede.
He looked at me shooting his breathtaking grin while his cheeks flushed red.
"I-It.. I-It's..because w-we have....a dream to accomplish... Anastasia.."